Panchakshari Movie Review

Behind the Movie Panchakshari: Anushka’s change over of image after ‘Arundhathi’ has kept audience in waiting for this powerful titled ‘Panchakshari.’ Director Samudra known for wholesome family entertainers has taken the burden of presenting Anushka’s new image post ‘Arundhathi.’ With Chandra, the makeup man of Anushka turning into a producer and Nag presenting this movie, let us see will this be one more ‘Arundhathi for Anushka?

In the Movie Panchakshari: Shankar Narayan Patel (Chandramohan)’s wife (Rajitha) gives birth to a baby Panchakshari in the temple of Abhaya Durga Devi in the village of Janagama. As the time and place of birth of Panchakshari matches with that of Goddess Durga Devi, people in the village treat Panchakshari as a form of goddess. Panchakshari (Anushka) grows up with time and reaches the age of marriage. She is married to Sriram (Samrat), an orphan and the couple gets settled in the same village.

Villain of the movie, local goon (Pradeep Rawat) eyes on the golden treasure that is hidden inside the temple. With help of Aghora Kundalika (Kamal), this local goon kills Panchakshari and closes the temple fearing the villagers. At this point of time, Honey (Anushka), a city grown fashion designer cum model fortunately meets Sriram. After listening to the entire story of Panchakshari, Honey enters the Janagama village to save  villagers and treasure.

Panchakshari, the dead and divine soul of goddess will now take the body Honey to punish the evil. How did Panchakshari accomplish this task is all the climax.

Values of the Movie Panchakshari: Anushka is clearly the heart and soul of this movie. Rare are the scenes where you miss Anushka in the frame. She took the burden of acting both as Panchakshari and Honey. As Honey, the modern girl Anushka was fine in first half providing the right mix of glamor and entertainment. In second half, Panchakshari is just the repitition of few bits from ‘Arundhathi’ and ‘Ammoru’ but very low in quality. Overall it was the show of only and only Anushka. Sriram looked very young besides Anushka and their pair looked abnormal. Neither was the skill nor was there any screen presence in Sriram. Pradeep Rawat as bad man looked less effective than his earlier movies. Kamal as Aghora was just okay. Chandramohan, Naazar, Subbaraya Sharma, Rajitha were just upto thier roles. Brahmi’s ‘Magadheera’ spoof was humorous in first few scenes but as the movie progresses it went on irritating. Ali as Sottabuggala Swami didn’t create any impact.

Technicalities wise, Director Samudra stumbled all along the movie. He failed to impress the audience with his style of narration which was very boring. Neither of the characters have found their firm ground. Being the movie titled as ‘Panchakshari,’ Samudra made a big mistake of leaving this main character to air in total first half. Screenplay had numerous loop holes. Dialogues were very low in standard helping in further degrading the standards of movie. Music by Chinna was even a big upset. Climax looked pale and ineffective by weak back ground. Editing by Marthand Venkatesh was okay. Coming to graphics department, they failed miserably except the climax scene. Production values of Sairathna Creations and Chandra were very low in standards.

Out of the Movie Panchakshari: A point that strikes clearly and harshly after watching this movie is that, producer Chandra has made an unconvincing attempt to cash the image of Anushka post ‘Arundhathi.’  He might be reaping benefits for the movie as business might be closed by this time but this will remain as a failed attempt made by a khichidi of ‘Arundhathi, Ammoru’ and other movies of this kind of genre. If first half was totally meant to entertain the audience with glamor show of Anushka, story unfolds only in the second half and moves quicker towards climax.

Anushka, the ‘Glamour Queen’ of Tollywood was misutilised to her caliber with 'Panchakshari'. A single shot in the climax scene where Panchakshari takes the form of ferrocious Goddess Durga Devi is enough to prove that direction was pathetic. After watching Ramya Krishna, Meena, Y Vijaya, Soundarya and Roja in the forms of Durga Devi and Kalika Devi (ofcourse with Graphics) punishing the evil, it was a fun to watch Anushka in the same essence. Movie may be clearly declared a failure in ‘A’ class centres while audience ‘B’ and ‘C’ centres may pull it for two to four weeks. Audience who enter the theatres with ‘Arundhathi’ mindset will be the most upset. Mohan Babu’s voice over in the movie start was good. If Anushka’s glamor, few episodes in second half, the element of divinity attached to the main story give some positive marks; weak narration, low standards of making, dull graphics, no comedy, ineffective background score will eat away the movie.

Cinejosh Verdict of the Movie Panchakshari: Tasteless khichidi of ‘Arundhathi & Ammoru.’

                                                                                                 Reviewed by Srivaas